Fifth-wheel.



No. 732,297. Z PATENTBD JUNE 30, 1903. G. A. HENNIGKE.

FIFTH WHEEL.

APPLICATION nun An. 22, 190-2. no MODEL. 2 8HEET8SHEET 1 JZZZP/zeys m:NORRIS r-s'nzns co. moruumu. wuwmmow, n. c

No. 732,297. PATENTED JUNE 30, 1903.

' C. A. HENNIGKE.

FIFTH WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 22, 1902.

no MODEL. 2 sums-sum 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT rammed June 30, 1903.

OFFICE.

CHARLES A. HENNICKE, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO PRATT &

LETCHWORTH COMPANY,

OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

FIFTH-WHEEL.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 732,297, dated June30, 1903.

Application filed April 22, 1902.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. HENNICKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie andState of New York,haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Fifth-W heels,of whichthe'following is a specification."

This invention relates to a fifth-wheel of that kind in which theking-bolt is arranged in rear of the axle and connects a socket securedto the axle and eyes connected to the head-block and perches.

The object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive, light, andstrong fifth-wheel, composed of few parts, which can be quickly andeasily applied to the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a very strong andpermanent attachment for the king-bolt socket, which permits of theapplication of the socket to axles varying somewhat in depth withoutinjurious efiect upon the fifth-wheel.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure 1 is aplan View of portions of the head-block, axle, and reaches of 'a vehicleprovided with a fifth-wheel embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is avertical sectional elevation thereof in line2 2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional'elevation on line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4.is a broken plan view of the lower wheel-segment and king-bolt socket.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the front axle,which, as shown, is composed of the metalaxle-bar and the wooden axle-stock or axle-bed resting thereon; B, thehead-block, and O the reach-bars or perches.

D represents the lower segment or half of the fifth-wheel, which may beof any usual or preferred construction. It is provided with anaxle-plate d, which connects the forward portions of the segment-rim andrests ,upon the axle-stock.

E represents the king-bolt socket, which is provided with a centralvertical hole for the king-bolt F. The socket is formed integrally witha vertical transverse plate e, which rests against the rear face of thefront axle, and

with a horizontal transverse bar e, which Serial No.104,114. a, mode.)

I bears against the under side of the axle. The horizontal bar 6 isprovided at its ends with front and rear lugs 6 through holes in whichpass the lower threaded ends of the clip-straps 6 which embrace the axleand the axle-plate of the lower fifth-wheel segment. The clips, whichare secured in place, as usual, by nuts, firmly hold the kin g-boltsocket and the lower segment to the axle. The attachment of the socketis further strengthened by horizontal bolts e, which pass through thevertical socket-plate e and the wooden axle-stock.

It is necessary to have the king-bolt socket to enable the workman toapply the parts to the axle without trouble or the necessity forcentering-tools the axle-plate of the lower wheel-segment is providedwith separated shoulders or rearwardly-proj eeting lugs f, between whichengages a finger f, projecting vertically from the vertical socket-platee. The lugs and finger are so located that when the finger is engagedbetween the shoulders or lugs the socket is concentric with the lowersegment. The interengaging finger and shoulders assist in preventing anyindependent lateral movement of the lower segment and the socket thusalways holding the parts in true concentric relation and relieving theking-bolt from undue strain. The arrangement also permits the socket andlower segment to be firmly attached to axles which r vary somewhatin'depth, as the finger can move vertically between the shoulders inattaching the parts. Thus considerable time, usually required fortrimming the axle-stock down to properly fitthe socket attachment, issaved.

The upper half or segment G of the fifth- 0 wheel, which is properlyshaped to cooperate with the lower segment, is provided with ahead-block plate g, which connects the forward portions of thesegment-rim and bears against the under side of the'head-block, to 5which it is secured by vertical end bolts g and clips g which latteralso secure the front body-spring to the head-block. The threaded endsof the clip-straps pass through holes block plate and are held by nuts,as usual.

I represents the perch-iron, the arms of I exactly concentric with thefifth-wheel, and 65 v formed in front and rear lugs g on the head- 1o:

which are trough-shaped and embrace the forward ends of the perches, towhich they are secured by bolts or the like 2'. The forward ends of theperch-iron arms are formed integrally with an eye or socket '1 whichrests on the king-bolt socket and through a hole in which the king-boltpasses, and a vertical transverse plate i which rests against the rearface of the head-block, to which. it is secured by horizontal bolts Thevertical plate 2' engages between two shoulders or rearwardly-projectinglugs J on the head-block plate, which accurately center the king-bolteye 2" relative to the king-bolt socket and obviate the necessity forcentering-tools.

K represents the stay-brace, the rear ends of the arms of which arebolted to the under sides of the perches. The forward end of thestay-brace is provided with an eye or socket 7:, which bears against thebottom of the kingbolt socket. The king-bolt F'passes through theking-bolt socket and eyes on the perchiron and stay-brace and securethese parts together.

The rear portion of the upper wheel-segment is provided with legs on,the lower horizontal ends of which rest on the arms of the perch-ironand are secured to the perches by bolts or the like m.

971 represents the usual antirattler bearingblock, which is carried by aspring secured to one of the perches and bears against the under side ofthe lower wheel-segment, holding the latter in yielding contact with theupper wheel-segment.

In assembling; the parts of the fifth-wheel the king-bolt eyes 'i and 7a011 the perch-iron and stay-brace are seated on the upper and lower endsof the king-bolt socket F before the bolts connecting the perch-iron Iand staybrace K with the perches C are tightened. These bolts are thentightened and the kingbolt F inserted through the eyes and socket andits nut screwed up to tightly connect the parts in their proper finalrelation. After this the holes are bored in the head-block B for thehorizontal bolts 1', which attach the perchiron to the head block. Theperchiron before it is secured to the head-block is free to movevertically to a limited extent between the lugs J on the head-blockplate and accommodate itself to the height of the king-bolt socket, andwhen the parts are finally secured the connection is tight and will notrattle.

I claim as my invention 1. In a fifth-wheel mechanism, the combinationwith a head-block, axle and axle-bed, and a reach; of a fifth-wheelmember, an axle plate integral therewith secured to the upper face ofthe axle-bed; a second fifth-wheel member, a head-block plate integraltherewith secured to the under face of the head-block, a perch-iron, aking-bolt-socket section carried thereby, a second king-bolt-socketsection separate from the fifth-wheel members and axle-plate, adjustablerelative to the latter secured to the axle-bed and having a partengaging the under face of the axle, and a king-bolt passing throughsaid sections, substantially as described.

2. In a fifth-wheel mechanism, the combination with a head-block, axleand axle-bed, and a reach; of a fifth-wheel member, an axleplateintegral therewith secured to the upper face of the axle -bed; a secondfifth -wheel member, a head-block plate integral therewith secured tothe under face of the head-block, a perch-iron, a king-bolt-socketsection carried thereby, a second king-bolt-socket section separate fromthe fifth-wheel members and axle-plate adjustable relative to thelatter, secured to the axle-bed and having a part engaging the underface of the axle, means on the axle-plate coacting with the secondsocket-section to center the latter, and a kingbolt passing through saidsections, substantially as described.

3. In a fifth-wheel mechanism, the combination with a head-block, axleand reach; of a fifth-wheel member having an axle-plate secured to theaxle; a second fifth-wheel member having a head-block plate secured tothe head-block; a perch-iron secured to the reach; a king-bolt-socketsection carried thereby, separate from the fifth-wheel members andhead-block plate and adjustable relative to the latter; a secondking-bolt-socket section coacting with the first; a king-bolt passingthrough said sections; and means on said head-block plate for centeringthe latter section, substantially as described.

4. In a fifth-wheel mechanism, the combination with a head-block, axleand axle-bed, and a reach; of afifth-wheel member, an axleplate integraltherewith secured to the upper face of the axle-bed, a secondfifth-wheel member, a head block plate integral therewith secured to theunder face of the headblock, a perch-iron, a king-bolt-socket sectioncarried thereby, a second king-bolt-socket section separate from thefifth-wheel mem-' bers and axle-plate, adjustable relative to thelatter, secured to the axle-bed and having a part engaging the face ofthe axle, shoulders on the axle-plate, a projection on the secondsocket-section coacting with said shoulders to center the lattersocket-section, and a kingbolt passing through said sections,substantially as described.

5. In a fifth-wheel mechanism, the combination with a head-block, axleand axle-bed, and a reach;of afifth-wheel member, an axleplate integraltherewith secured to the upper face of the axle-bed, a secondfifth-wheel member, a headblock plate integral therewith secured to thehead-block, a perch-iron, a king-bolt-socket section carried thereby, asecond king-bolt-socket section separate from the fifth-wheel members,and axle-plate and adjustable relative to the latter, said secondsocket-section having a vertical plate resting against the rear faces ofthe axle and axlebed, and a transverse bar embracing the under face ofthe axle, and a king-bolt passing through said section.

6. In a fifth-wheel mechanism, the combination with a head-block, axleand axle-bed, and areach; of a fifth-wheelmember, an axleplate intregaltherewith secured to the upper face of the axle bed, a secondfifth-wheelmember, a head block plate integral therewith secured to theunder face of the headblock, a perch-iron secured to the reach, aking-bolt-socket section carried therebyseparate from the fifth-wheelmembers and headblock plate and adjustable relative to the latter, asecond king-bolt-socket section coacting with the first secured to theaxle and axlebed, a king-bolt passing through said sections, and meanson the head-block plate for centering the first-named king-bolt-socketsection, substantially as described.

7. In a fifth-wheel mechanism, the combination with a head-block, axleand axle-bed, and areach of a fifth-wheel member, an axleplate integraltherewith secured to the upper face of the axle-bed, a secondfifth-wheel member, a head-block plate integral therewith secured to theunder face of the headblock, a perch-iron secured to the reach having avertical plate finding a bearing against the head-block, aking-bo1t-socket section carried by the perch-iron separate from thefifth-wheel members and head-block plate and adjustable relative to thelatter, shoulders on said head-block plate coacting with said verticalplate of the perch-iron to center the socket-section carried by thelatter, a second king-bolt-socket section associated with the axle andengaging the first-named socketsection, and a king-bolt passing throughsaid sections.

8. In a fifth-wheel mechanism, the combination with a head-block,-axleand reach; of a fifth-wheel member having an axle-plate secured to theaxle; a second fifth-wheel memhead-block; a perch-iron secured to thereach and to the head-block; a king-bolt-socket section carried by theperch-iron; a second king-bolt-socket section separate from thefifth-wheel members and axle-plate, and having a vertically-disposedfinger associated therewith; separated shoulders projecting rearwardlyfrom the edge of the axle-plate providing a guide for said finger, and akingbolt passing through said sections, substantially as described.

9. In a fifth-wheel mechanism, the combination with a head-block, axleand reach; of a fifth-wheel member having an axle-plate secured to theaxle; a second fifth-wheel member having a head-block plate secured tothe head-block; a perch-iron, separate from the fifth-wheel members andhead-block plate, having a vertical plate finding a bearing against thehead-block; a king-bolt-socket section carried by the perch-iron;shoulders projecting rearwardly from the head-block plate coacting withthe vertical plate of the perch-iron for centering said socketsection; asecond socket-section separate from the fifth-wheel members andaxle-plate, a vertical plate associated therewith finding abearingagainst the rear side of the axle; shoulders projecting from the rearedge of the axleplate coacting with said vertical plate for centeringsaid socket-section; and a king-bolt passing through said sections,substantially as described.

Witness my hand this 12th day of April, 1902.

CHARLES A. HENNICKE.

Witnesses:

JNo. J. BONNER, CLAUDIA M. BENTLEY.

